Recovering from a hernia operation

[Danny]

I am due to have a hernia operation next week.

I have been told that it will take six weeks before I have fully recovered, but also that I can start doing some "gentle" cycling before then.

Has anyone here had the op? When did you start cycling afterwards and how long did it take them to build your cycling back up to normal? Normal in my case is a daily commute of a few miles, and 30-60 miles at the weekend.

 

[huttster]

Hi Danny,is the hernia in the groin?I have had two hernia operations(one either side)they give you a list of what you should be doing and early on you are not even allowed to lift a kettle!As for getting back in the saddle i would only be guessing but six weeks sounds about right,you will be able to feel it pulling if you are over doing it so i would say no hills but 'gentle' flat ridding is what they probably mean,good luck.

 

[screenman]

Depends what method they use to repair it, hopefully it will be the mesh method. I was out walking the next day, on the indoor bike 5 days later and racing in just under six weeks. I had mine done at the British Hernia Clinic in Hendon who give a life time guarantee, still going well after 17 years.

 

[Danny]

Yes it is a hernia in the groin, and they are planning to repair it with a mesh. Mine is being done on the NHS so I'll take it that it comes with a "guarantee".

Fortunately it is flat as a pancake around York so maybe I could try some gentle after a few weeks. Meanwhile I'll have to hope that the rest of the family are prepared to make me a cup of tea!

 

[huttster]

Mine where both mesh and on the nhs,cup of tea and a biscuit now clear off sort of thing,both have held up no problems,I suppose recovery is different for everyone and how big a tear could also play a part,before i had mine done,even if i just coughed a lump the size of a golf ball protruded through my groin that i could push back in,nice!

 

[Lien Sdrawde]

Also, you could ask the surgeon after the op as he'll know how good the repair job went - he may not know about cycling but he'll be good for his expertise.

 

[screenman]

Have a look at this site, they did my hernia 17 years ago using the mesh method long before the NHS had even heard of it. They have a very informative site if you spend a few minutes looking at it. They are also extremely easy to talk to on the phone.

I am not connected with them in any way, apart from being an extremely satisfied customer.

 

[Danny]

Have a look at this site

Thanks - but there seems to be a link missing

 

[screenman]

Sorry just I will try again, I know they get a lot of footballers back playing very quickly.

www.hernia.org

 

[Danny]

Just thought I would provide a bit of an update.

I had a long conversation with my consultant before the operation about when I could resume cycling. The procedure he uses is different from the one in screenman's link, and with the type of operation I had he recommend not doing any cycling for four weeks, and avoiding hills or more strenuous cycling for six weeks.

I also came across a similar question to mine in a letter in Cycling Plus from a few months ago. The medical expert who responded said there was no general advice you could give about recovery times as there are several different types of hernia and different techniques can be used to repair them. His view was that you need to follow the advice of your consultant in each case - which is what I intend to do even though I am reluctant to be off my bike for so long.

On a positive note I was up and about within two hours of the operation, and now 5 days later can comfortably walk a couple of miles. So I guess I'll keep up my fitness by doing some long walks.